Building upon the success of Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe aims to solve the greatest challenges of our time, such as adapting to climate change, fighting cancer, helping to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, all while boosting the EU’s overall competitiveness and growth. This new programme offers a budget of €95.5 billion over 7 years (2021-2027).

  • Did you know?

    Ireland has transformed itself over the past 40 years into one of Europe’s top ten innovation nations

  • Did you know?

    Over 2,700 Irish organisations have been involved in Horizon 2020 projects

  • Did you know?

    Ireland enjoys a strong track record in European Framework Programmes, winning €1.2 billion in funding through Horizon 2020 (2014-2020)

  • Did you know?

    Irish SMEs enjoyed considerable success with Horizon 2020 funding, accounting for €307.2 million of the overall total

  • Did you know?

    The budget allocated to Horizon Europe is about 30% larger than that of Horizon 2020

  • Did you know?

    Higher level of international cooperation: more countries can access funding, as the EU is looking to engage with the brightest minds on Earth

Horizon Europe in numbers

Explore Ireland's success in Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe

Structure of Horizon Europe

Underpinned by an ambition to widen participation and strengthen the European Research Area, Horizon Europe is founded on three key pillars.

Pillar 1. Excellent Science

Driving scientific excellence and supporting the EU's position as a world leader in science. This pillar focuses on funding the highest quality research to generate new knowledge and information. The Excellence Science Pillar supports frontier research and breakthrough scientific ideas, connects the best researchers from Europe and beyond, and equips them with skills and word-class research infrastructures. It includes 'The European Research Council', 'Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions' and 'Research Infrastructures'.

Find out more about Pillar 1. Excellent Science

Pillar 2. Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness

Addressing global challenges by incentivizing interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral cooperation. Through collaborative research and innovation projects, this pillar aims to drive the development of key technologies and solutions underpinned by EU policy goals. It aims to transform the results of excellent research into innovative solutions to tackle global problems. This Pillar is made up of six thematically defined clusters, supported by the EU's Joint Research Centre and crosscutting Missions.

Find out more about Pillar 2. Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness

Pillar 3. Innovative Europe

Supporting and connecting innovators across Europe. Stimulating market-creating breakthroughs is the core objective of pillar 3. Primarily targeted at SMEs and start-ups, it fosters the development of innovation ecosystems and commercialisation of research results. It includes three streams, 1. the European Innovation Council EIC, 2. The European Institute of Innovation and Technology EIT, and 3. the European Innovation Ecosystems programme.

Find out more about Pillar 3. Innovative Europe

Cluster 5 Horizon Europe

Relates to Energy

Cluster 5 of the Horizon Europe programme is dedicated to climate, energy and mobility.

With an overarching goal to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, Cluster 5 of Horizon Europe, aims to drive the twin green and digital transition for the benefit of our economy, industry, and society. Through transformation of our mobility, energy, construction and production sectors, the programme strives to position Europe as the leading digitally enabled, circular, climate neutral and sustainable economy.

There are two destinations dedicated to energy within Cluster 5.

Destination 3: Sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply

  • This Destination aims to create a more efficient, clean, sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply through the development of new solutions for smart grids and energy systems based on efficient renewable energy solutions.

  • Destination 3’s focus is to deliver impact across three main areas; global leadership in renewable energy; energy systems, grids and storage; and carbon capture, utilisation and storage.

Destination 4: Efficient Sustainable and inclusive energy use

  • Steered by EU policies such as the European Green Deal, the Renovation Wave and Industry Strategy, Destination 4 aims to ensure the efficient and sustainable use of energy, which is accessible for all, through a clean energy system and a just transition.

  • The focus of this Destination is on innovations that boost energy efficiency and reduce energy demand across buildings and industry.

Cluster 5 Funding Opportunities